Seal-lock for mail-bags



(Model.)

C. C. EGERTON.

SEAL 1.06K PoR MAH. BAGS.

No. 264,676. Patented s616619, 1862.

Figli.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

C. GALVERT EGERTON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SEAL-LOCKFOR MAIL-BAGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 264,676, datedSeptember 19, 1882.

Application filed J une 14, 1882.

.To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, G. GALVERT EGERTON, ofBaltimore city, State of Maryland, haveinvented certain new and usefulImprovements in Mail-Bag Locks; and I hereby declare the same to befully, clearly, and exactly described i as follows, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan of the deviceopen; Fig. 2, a similar view closed. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinalsectional view, and Fig. 4 a rear elevation, ot' the` signature-tag.

My invention relates to locks for mail-bags; and it has for its objectto provide a lock designed to prevent or to detect any tampering withthe mail in transit.

The invention will first be fully described in connection with all thatis necessary to a 1'ull understanding thereof', and then designated inthe claim.

In the drawings, A is a plate having ears a, a., which are riveted tothebag, and A' is a second plate having a lug, a', which is pivoted betweenears b', that are pivoted to the plate A. The two plates are providedwith ribs B, which close down upon each other, as shown in Fig. 3, andhave also pins or teeth b, projecting upward between the ribs. On'theend of the plate A is an under-cut ilange, d, having slots d' and anintermediate beveled lip, c. Below this lip is a small socket, which isindicated in Fig. l by a broken curved line, and on the plate A' arelugsf, which fall between the slots d', and a 1ip,f', actuated by aspring, F.

C is a stud secured to the plate A, and c' is the strap of the bag,having a terminal plate, c, slotted to tit upon the lug.

The upper plate, A', has a central openin g, D, to expose thedestination-tag D', and is by preference made of open or lattice `work.

In lieu of riveting the plate Ato the bag, it may be provided withahaltstaple, E, having a terminal socket to receive the end of ahalfstaple, E', on the plate A', the two being-designed to secure eyeson the ends ot' the strap c'.

1n operation the strap is laced through the eyes on the bag and theplate c is placed over the lug C, as shown. The tag D' is then laid(Model.)

the plate A, causing the lip f' to catch under the lip e and occupy thesmall socket. The ribs B press upon and secure the tag D', which isperforated by the pinsb. Now, it will be seen that once secured, asdescribed, lateral movement of the plate A' to the left is prevented byreason of the lug f bringing up against the beveled shoulder d", and thelip f' prevents any upward movement, and lateral movement to the rightis prevented by reason of the engagement of lip f' with the smallsocket. It may be moved to the right by retracting the lip j" throughthe medium ot' a suitable key inserted through the hole a",- but thismotion to the right causes the pins b to tear and destroy the tag.

in place and the plate A' is closed down upon o The device serves tosecure the address-tag by means of the hinge closes against the otherAit may be opened again only by bringing into operation the pivot andmoving it laterally.

lt will be seen that by my improvement one plate is provided with anundercut flange, d., having slots d' and the beveled shoulder d", andthe other plate is provided with lugsf, which,byfallinginto the saidslots and against the beveled shoulder, engage below the under cutflange. These parts, with the springlipf', constitute an operativedevice-one which is positive in action and possesses the requisitestrength to hold the fastening-strap, and at the same time cannot becomedisordered.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

In a mail-bag lock, the combination, with two plates hinged and pivotedtogether and adapted to clasp between them the fasteningstrap or addressseal-tag, of an under-cut ange, ol, having slots d', a beveled shoulder,d", and a socket below the flange on one plate and lugs fand aspring-lip,f', on the other plate, whereby when one plate closes againstl W'itness my hand this 13th day ot June, the other the two are stronglysecured from 1882. opening by the action of the hinge by the enilogement of the lugs under the under-cut l flange, and are preventedfrom lateral movement on the pivot by the engagement ot' thelllitnesses: spring-lip with the socket below the harige, as R. D.WILLIAMS, set forth. DANL. MOORE.

C. CALVERT EGERTON.

